Taylors Wines

Taylors Wines sits at the heart of Auburn, one of the Clare Valley's most established wine towns, about two hours north of Adelaide. Founded in 1969, it's among the region's more significant producers, with a focus on cool-climate varieties that have made Clare Valley's reputation: Riesling, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wines

Clare Valley's signature grape is Riesling, and Taylors produces it alongside two red varieties that suit the region's structure-driven style. The Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon benefit from the valley's cool nights and limestone-rich soils — conditions that tend to produce reds with firm tannins and good ageing potential rather than the softer, fruit-forward style you'd find in warmer regions. The Riesling, as you'd expect from Clare, leans toward the dry and precise end of the spectrum.

The cellar door covers their core range across all three varieties, giving you a useful cross-section of how Taylors interprets the region.

Cellar Door Experience

The cellar door is open daily and set up as a proper tasting environment — organised, staffed by people who know their wines, and equipped to handle both casual visitors and those looking to go deeper into the range. It's a professional operation rather than a boutique drop-in, which suits Taylors' scale as a producer.

Tasting fees and specific inclusions can vary, so it's worth checking their website or calling ahead to confirm current arrangements, especially if you're planning to visit with a group.

Food and Dining

There's an on-site restaurant where you can sit down for a meal alongside Taylors wines. For weekend visits or travel during vintage season, booking ahead is a good idea — restaurant seating in popular Clare Valley destinations fills up quickly on Saturdays and during harvest. Current menus and booking options are best confirmed directly with the winery.

The Vineyard

Auburn sits in the southern end of the Clare Valley, and the growing conditions here are well suited to the varieties Taylors concentrates on. Limestone-rich soils provide good drainage and contribute to the minerality that Clare Valley wines are known for. Cool nights through the growing season preserve acidity in the fruit, which matters particularly for Riesling but also shapes the structure of the reds. Rainfall is moderate, and the continental climate keeps summer temperatures from pushing too far into the extreme — though late December through January can still get uncomfortably hot.

Getting There

Auburn is reached via the Barrier Highway heading north from Adelaide — straightforward driving on good regional roads. The trip takes roughly two hours from the city. The Clare Valley is well set up for touring by caravan or motorhome, with road conditions and facilities throughout the region suited to larger vehicles. If you're travelling with a coach or bus group, it's worth confirming parking arrangements with the winery beforehand.

Visitor Tips

• Book the restaurant in advance for weekends and during vintage (February–April), when the region sees its highest visitor numbers.
• Plan for two to three hours if you're combining a cellar door tasting with lunch.
• Mid-week visits tend to be quieter, which allows for a more relaxed experience at the cellar door.
• Pair Taylors with other cellar doors in Auburn and nearby Clare Valley towns — the concentration of producers in the region makes it easy to visit several in a day.
• Best time to visit is autumn (March–May) for harvest atmosphere and comfortable temperatures, or spring (September–November) for mild weather and green landscapes. Avoid the height of summer if you're sensitive to heat.
• Check opening hours on their website before you travel, as hours can vary across public holidays and off-peak periods.